The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference has rejected Constitutional Amendment No. 3, citing risks to democracy and the people’s authority. They warned that proposed changes could centralise power and weaken national institutions. The bishops urged leaders to uphold the Constitution and prioritise the common good.
The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) has strongly criticised the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3, warning that the changes threaten democratic principles and undermine the supremacy of the people’s will.
In a pastoral statement titled “In Defence of Truth, Justice, and the Voice of the People,” the bishops said the amendment poses a serious challenge to the foundations of national governance, public trust, and the common good.
Quoting scripture, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36), the bishops urged Zimbabweans to reflect carefully on the implications of altering the Constitution without broad public consent.
Advertisement
“Our Constitution is more than law; it is a solemn covenant, born from the overwhelming will of Zimbabweans in 2013, embodying our collective hopes for justice, unity, peace, and prosperity,” the statement read.
The bishops stressed that the voice of the people must remain supreme, noting that all legitimate authority comes from citizens who entrusted leaders with a five-year mandate ending in 2028.
They warned that proposals shifting power away from the electorate could weaken this trust. These include weakening direct presidential elections, extending terms of office without fresh consent, and bypassing safeguards such as referendums.
The ZCBC also raised concern that the amendment would concentrate power in the Executive. They cited proposed changes such as removing direct presidential elections, extending terms from five to seven years, and bypassing Section 328(7), which bars incumbents from benefiting from term extensions without a referendum.
Further concerns included increased presidential control over judicial and prosecutorial appointments, which the bishops said risks political interference. They also pointed to the weakening of electoral integrity by transferring key functions from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and allowing traditional leaders to act in a partisan manner.
The bishops reminded President Emmerson Mnangagwa of his statement that “the voice of the people is the voice of God,” warning that sidelining public participation could weaken national unity and the spirit of ubuntu/unhu.
They cautioned that weakening checks and balances threatens peace, justice, and confidence in national institutions. “Peace endures not by force, but through fair, transparent, and independent institutions,” the statement said, adding that captured institutions divide rather than unite.
Addressing Members of Parliament and Senators, the bishops urged them to resist political pressure and act in the interest of the nation. “You bear a sacred duty before God and the nation: to govern for the common good, not personal or partisan gain,” they said, quoting Matthew 10:28.
The ZCBC concluded by calling for truth, justice, and respect for the Constitution as debate on Constitutional Amendment No. 3 continues in Zimbabwe.
